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January 26, 2013

Obama: A Deranged Lincoln


It was President Abraham Lincoln who, made desperate by the continued success of the Army of North Virginia led by Robert E. Lee, said "Give me a General who will fight!"

And now it is President Barack Obama who, made desperate by the continued resistance of American patriots, says "Give me generals who will fight ... their own Countrymen!" And gives the boot to one of America's most competent generals, Marine Corps General James N. Mattis.

From the American Thinker:
General James Mattis is being fired for insisting on complete contingency planning, according to Pentagon reporter Tom Ricks. Truth-telling isn't welcome in this administration, and that means big trouble ahead. General Mattis and the military understand that. The general insisted on full planning for all predictable outcomes.

Obama is a gambler, and he doesn't want to think about what might happen if his wild gambles don't pay off. He is amazingly overconfident. General Mattis is a thinker. He is a responsible combat leader.
And he is being forced out of his position as Commander of USCENTCOM. He is, or was, at the top of my daughter's chain of command.
Word on the national security street is that General James Mattis is being given the bum's rush out of his job as commander of Central Command, and is being told to vacate his office several months earlier than planned.

Why the hurry? Pentagon insiders say that he rubbed civilian officials the wrong way -- not because he went all "mad dog," which is his public image, and the view at the White House, but rather because he pushed the civilians so hard on considering the second- and third-order consequences of military action against Iran. Some of those questions apparently were uncomfortable. Like, what do you do with Iran once the nuclear issue is resolved and it remains a foe? What do you do if Iran then develops conventional capabilities that could make it hazardous for U.S. Navy ships to operate in the Persian Gulf? He kept saying, "And then what?"
These are questions you pose to responsible adults. Sorry General sir, but you have the wrong audience. Better off asking them how the Knicks are doing or if they like bacon bits on their nacho fries.
Inquiry along these lines apparently was not welcomed -- at least in the CENTCOM view. The White House view, apparently, is that Mattis was too hawkish, which is not something I believe, having seen him in the field over the years. I'd call him a tough-minded realist, someone who'd rather have tea with you than shoot you, but is happy to end the conversation either way.
And to further consolidate their positions in the Asshat Hall of Fame, the White House fired the General and didn't even extend him the courtesy of telling him.
Presidents should feel free to boot generals anytime they want, of course -- that's our system, and one I applaud. But ousting Mattis at this time, and in this way, seems wrong for several reasons:

TIMING: If Mattis leaves in March, as now appears likely, that means there will be a new person running CENTCOM just as the confrontation season with Iran begins to heat up again.

CIVIL-MILITARY SIGNALS: The message the Obama Administration is sending, intentionally or not, is that it doesn't like tough, smart, skeptical generals who speak candidly to their civilian superiors. In fact, that is exactly what it (and every administration) should want. Had we had more back in 2003, we might not have made the colossal mistake of invading Iraq.
So what message is the Obama Administration sending? If this is to be believed, it is a chilling message made perhaps more believable by the Administration's accelerated efforts to eliminate the ability of the American people to defend themselves.

On Monday, renowned author and humanitarian Dr. Jim Garrow made a shocking claim about what we can expect to see in Obama's second term.

Garrow made the following Facebook post:

I have just been informed by a former senior military leader that Obama is using a new “litmus test” in determining who will stay and who must go in his military leaders. Get ready to explode folks. “The new litmus test of leadership in the military is if they will fire on US citizens or not.” Those who will not are being removed.

So, who is the source?

Garrow replied: “The man who told me this is one of America’s foremost military heroes.”

Understand, this is not coming from Alex Jones or Jesse Ventura, or from anyone else the left often dismisses with great ease.

Garrow is a well-respected activist and has spent much of his life rescuing infant girls from China, babies who would be killed under that country's one-child policy. He was also nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his work.

Keep your powder dry.

18 comments:

USA_Admiral said...

0bama's overconfidence will be his undoing.

sig94 said...

Admiral - I feel the same way; just how much damage can he do before he receives his comeuppence?

LL said...

Molan Labe

sig94 said...

LL - amen.

USA_Admiral said...

It feels like the damage will be total and complete. Also what LL said.

Libertarian Advocate said...

Shit storm on radar.

Woodsterman (Odie) said...

No nothings feel best when surrounded by yes men.

WoFat said...

The present administration spells the word "think," as THIMK.

sig94 said...

LA - Foul weather ahead for sure.

sig94 said...

Odie - Always a danger with anyone in a position of great power. Victorious Roman generals were awarded a Triumphus by the Roman Senate upon their return from successful military campaigns.

"On the day of his triumph, the general wore regalia that identified him as near-divine or near-kingly, and a laurel wreath was held above his head. He rode in a chariot through the streets of Rome in unarmed procession with his army and the spoils of his war.

[..] He may have been accompanied in his chariot by a slave holding a golden wreath above his head and constantly reminding the commander of his mortality by whispering into his ear.

The words that the slave is said to have used are not known, but suggestions include "Respice te, hominem te memento" ("Look behind you, remember you are only a man") and "Memento mori" ("Remember (that you are) mortal").

Obama needs to have someone remind him that all his scheming and plotting can end in a heartbeat and he will be standing alone before his Creator with a whole lot of 'splaining to do.

Kid said...

I can see a violent civil war. Intelligent adults will be ruled by children only so long.

sig94 said...

Kid - that is how Obama got in, there just aren't enough intelligent adults left in this country to see through his machinations.

Doom said...

I'm not holding by breath about Zero. I am not sure what the hold up is, if I suspect. But any other man who has held that office knew better, for very many reasons. From what I can see, there is no punishment yet or in the pipeline. I'm starting to think, because the guy is black looking, the constitution has been suspended.

I had been exercising to just improve my health to try to get up and going. Now I am prepping in hopes I can become an expat. Like white South Africans, I see the writing on the wall and none of the checks and balances working, at all. With the electoral process so broken, unless that is fixed, if it isn't Zero, it will be the next one. Dump women and non-taxpayers from the rolls or roll up and kiss it goodbye.

You may not like having heard THAT. But that is MY assessment.

sig94 said...

Doom - it's not mine to like or dislike. Where would you go?

Doom said...

Uhrm, actually, I would take a play from the S.A. white playbook. Basically, anywhere but home. For them, absolutely, "home" will become their grave if they stay. Foreign countries, even if they go off their top, usually don't mess with foreigners. If nothing else, just start traveling and don't stop, living lean and fast, and hard if need be, only living by the rules when the rules don't interfere with one's survival.

Fradgan said...

Circumstances no longer require the actions of a loyal majority, but the rope tying ability of a stealth few. "Journalists" go first.

Doom said...

Absolutely no doubts, Fradgan. The problem is, I'm not seeing it. Been looking for smoke signals, flares, tapping through the cells, or other signs of unrest. Doesn't look to be happening. A man can't do that singularly, and shouldn't have to.

Subvet said...

The nation we knew is gone and not coming back. We can hit the highway as Doom suggests, we can hunker down after making whatever preparations seem necessary and wait things out, we can all line up to kiss Big Brother's greasy butt or we can just stuff our heads in the sand and live as if theres no problem for as long as being self deluded is possible. You pays your money and makes your choice. I'm opting for Door #2, if I live long enough there'll be a reeducation camp in my future (assuming I'm not shot trying to escape).

A few years back I'd have said this was paranoid hogwash. But after reading of how our government is buying ammo out the gump stump, purchasing assault rifles for God-only-knows-why, working to disarm lawabiding citizens and actively striving to split the people into warring factions based on race, class, etc. I no longer feel it's paranoia.

If it is, well even paranoids have enemies. See you in the camps, comrades.